High school art class. The lighting was dim. Soft, reflective music played in the background. I twirled the colored pencils and charcoals in my fingers, elegantly tracing the contours of my face on the paper canvas – a self portrait. I smoothed in the warm hues of skin tone and reveled in my very first attempt at making art… at least art that I felt confident in.

Without warning, my art teacher came up behind me. I expected words of congratulations or encouragement, this being my first art class. Instead, without a word, he took the blue colored pencil he held in his hand and swiped a streak of blue right down the middle of my self-portrait.

Aghast, I awaited his reasoning. His simple words were, “Make it work.” My initial thought was that my piece was ruined. Something I had never done before and something I was actually proud of…was ruined.

But then, I reasoned with myself. I could make this work. It doesn’t have to be ruined. This can be made better. So, I went to work melding the cool colors into the warm ones and before long, my portrait was an array of various dimensions of color and something I could’ve never produced if my teacher hadn’t challenged me. It was better.

Oftentimes, I expect perfection of myself and my situations. Do you feel that way sometimes, especially when things go wrong? We are all vibrant tapestries of ups and downs, turning into something beautiful if we allow God to work. We are God’s handiwork, after all – we are the work of His hands!

When storms come… when we make choices we regret and ask for forgiveness… when something out of our control happens, with God’s grace, He can turn it around for good. Don’t throw away the future blessings God has for you – He can make beauty from ashes. You’re not a lost cause. Your situation isn’t hopeless. Because we have the Master Artist. The One who created us is more than capable of taking care of our needs and I can tell you that today, because I’ve experienced it.

I’m thankful for the blue streaks in my life – the ones that grow me, test me, encourage me to take action. I’m grateful for them. And, I’m better for them.

Trust the Master’s plan and see that He cares for you and wants you to trust Him.

Isaiah 64:8; Job 34:18-19; Matthew 10:29-31; Isaiah 61:3; Romans 8:28.

©️2020 Rachel D. Lyne